Weiser wins close Colorado attorney general race

State Rep. Joe Salazar congratulates Phil Weiser June 30

State Rep. Joe Salazar conceded the Democratic primary race for attorney general to lawyer Phil Weiser as of the afternoon of June 30, nearly four days after the polls closed.

Salazar, of Thornton, said in a news release that while not all final votes were in, it was clear he would not surpass 50 percent in the race against Weiser, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Justice Department. Salazar praised his campaign and supporters in the release.

Weiser complimented Salazar in a news release for being "a fierce advocate for social justice and a true fighter for those less fortunate."

"I am a far better candidate becasue of the experience running against him in this primary and share his commitment to listening to those who are not often heard," Weiser said.

The two spoke by phone that day, Weiser said in the release. Salazar congratulated his opponent.

"He ran a great campaign in a tough race," Salazar said. "We've started a lot of conversations about the importance of the attorney general's office, how to ensure equity and justice are priorities of our elected officials, and about the future of the Democratic Party."

With 100 percent of counties reporting as of June 29 — the most recent update as of afternoon July 2 — 5,136 votes separated Weiser from Salazar, according to unofficial results from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. The count stood at 50.4 percent for Weiser to Salazar's 49.6.

The official number of votes in the election will be submitted to the secretary of state by July 18, following the counting of remaining ballots and a certification process.